Dripless purification manifold and cartridge

ABSTRACT

A cartridge based water purification and filtration system which permits cartridge changes without drainage at the input and output ports. Interlocking flanges at the manifold and cartridge lock the cartridge to the manifold and raised surfaces at the cartridge operate the inlet valve with a rotational seating of the cartridge. A spring biased inlet valve depends from a supply manifold input port and cooperates with the filter cartridge to prevent forward flow until the cartridge is seated to the manifold. The check valve includes a split stem which prevents chatter with valve operation. A check valve at the output port cooperates with a sealed bayonet fitting that mates to a concentric outlet port at the cartridge to prevent back flow with cartridge removal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to water purification and filtrationsystems and, in particular, to a disposable cartridge system having amanifold which cooperates with the cartridge to interrupt the supply andreturn lines during cartridge changes to prevent drainage from thesupply system.

A particular problem experienced with the changing of single appliancewater purification/filtration cartridges is the necessity of dealingwith drainage released from the supply and return lines with the releaseof the cartridge from a system manifold. Unless shutoff valves areprovided in the system supply lines that mate to the manifold, watertypically drains from one or both of the conduits with the removal ofthe cartridge from the manifold. The sporadic frequency of the cartridgechanges and attendant operator forgetfulness to the problem typicallyresults in drainage. That is, the maintenance personnel forget to mounta catch pan or other spill prevention appliance beneath the manifold andit becomes necessary to clean up the spill.

A number of cartridge systems which are subject to the foregoing problemare disclosed at U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,746,171; 4,515,692; 4,915,831;4,877,521; and 5,354,464. The cartridges of the disclosed systemsvariously provide projecting bayonet return ports which mate withrecessed outflow cavities at the manifold. Twist lock mountings to themanifold are also provided at some of the cartridges. Cartridgeinterlock retainers are also disclosed. However, flow control valving isnot provided at either the manifold or cartridge for any of theforegoing systems. Nor do any of the cartridges include surfaces whichcooperate with associated valving.

In appreciation of the foregoing problem and inconvenience, the presentmanifold and cartridge system was developed. In contrast to conventionalcartridges, the manifold of the invention provides a bayonet fitting ata center out flow port which couples to a recess at the cartridge. Sealsdisplaced along the fitting and internal to the cartridge contain viralcontaminants to the cartridge. A spring biased stem valve at themanifold inlet port cooperates with a raised, tapered surface at thecartridge to permit flow only upon the rotational seating and locking ofthe cartridge to the manifold. A one-way check valve at the outlet portto prevents back flow. In an alternative construction, a slotted orsplit stem, check valve provides noise free operation. The system findsparticular advantage with cartridge based appliance systems, such as icemakers and chilled water dispensers at a refrigerator or water cooler,and for under cabinet cartridge mountings, such as at sinks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a cartridgebased water purification and filtration system that prevents drainagefrom the supply and return lines upon removing a treatment cartridge.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a supply manifoldcontaining shut off valves at one or both of provided supply and returnports.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a manifold having astem valve at a supply port which cooperates with a surface at thetreatment cartridge, such that with cartridge mounting and rotation orremoval the valve retracts and extends to control supply flow.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a manifold having aprojecting surface or bayonet fitting which contains a number of O'ringseals and which fitting mounts to a mating outlet recess at thecartridge which is backed by additional seals at the cartridge toprevent bypass migration of contaminants.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a manifold havingchannelways which interlock to flanged shoulders at the cartridge, uponrotation of the flanges into the channelways.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cartridge containerhaving an infeed flow cavity defined between a sealed external housingand internal liner whereby flow is directed to the bottom of thecartridge and thence through filtration and purification treatment mediasupported in the liner and to the outlet port.

Various of the foregoing objects, advantages and distinctions of theinvention are obtained in a presently preferred system which provides amanifold having integral flow control valves at inlet and outlet ports.The valves cooperate with a treatment cartridge to prevent drainage ofliquid from the manifold supply lines during the changing of a treatmentcartridge. Extraneous shut-offs are thereby avoided at the primarysupply system.

The manifold is molded to provide a central tubular out flow or"bayonet" fitting. O'ring seals are fitted to the fitting to mate with arecessed port at the treatment cartridge to seal out flow from thecartridge. Radially displaced from the bayonet fitting are a number ofchannelways which interlock with shoulders of a mounted cartridge.

Depending from the manifold is a stem valve which controls flow from theinlet port. Raised surfaces at the cartridge contact the valve with theseating and rotation of the cartridge to the channelways. Supply flow isthereby enabled and disabled with a corresponding extension andretraction of the valve.

The treatment cartridge provides an open ended housing which supports aconcentrically mounted internal liner. Radial flanges at the linerdisplace the liner from the housing and form an infeed channel. Flow isre-directed from a cartridge end cap. Successive stages of filtrationand purification media treat the water prior to directing the waterthrough a central recess which mates to the bayonet fitting.

A one-way check valve at the manifold outlet port permits liquid outflow but prevents back flow. A tapered valve stem is normally biased toa closed condition at the manifold to mate with a seat surface and opensupon liquid outflow being directed against the valve stem. In anotherconstruction, the valve includes a split, cylindrical stem and isconstructed to provide surfaces that promote non-symmetrical flow toprevent valve oscillation and nuisance audible sounds.

Also disclosed is a dual cartridge manifold. Interconnected, manifoldssupport a filter cartridge and a purification cartridge.

Still other objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention arediscussed below in relation to the appended drawings. To the extentvarious modifications and improvements have been considered, they aredescribed as appropriate. The description should not be literallyconstrued in limitation of the scope of the invention, which rathershould be interpreted to include all those equivalent embodiments withinthe scope of the further appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing to the manifold and treatment cartridgeof the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross section view through the manifold taken alongsection lines 2--2 at the longitudinal center of the manifold andcartridge.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section view through the center of atreatment cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a cross section view through the center of an alternativetreatment cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a plan view to a slotted stem check valve.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the valve stem of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross section view through a dual cartridgemanifold assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With attention to FIG. 1, an exploded assembly drawing is shown to theimproved purification and filtration treatment system of the invention.The system 2 includes a supply manifold 4 having a sealed bayonetfitting 6 which mounts to a two stage recess 8 at a treatment cartridge10. Radially displaced from the recess 8 are a pair of shoulder flanges12, 14, which have tapered leading edges 16, that mate with a pair ofinterlocking flanges 18 and 20 at the manifold 4. With the mounting ofthe bayonet 6 into the recess 8 and the sealing of a number of O'rings22, 24 and 26 mounted along the fitting 6 within the stages of therecess 8, the flanges 12, 14 are aligned to channelways 27 and 28 at theflanges 18 and 20. The cartridge 10 can then be rotated to interlockwith the manifold 4, which concurrently permits flow between themanifold 4 and the cartridge 10.

Depending from one side of the bayonet fitting 6 is a stem valveassembly 30. The valve assembly 30 is configured to prevent flow throughan adjoining aperture 32 that communicates with a supply conduit 34,except when the cartridge 10 is fully seated to the manifold 4. With thedepression of the valve assembly 30, liquid flow is directed from thesupply conduit 34 through the aperture 32 and a number of inlet ports 35arrayed about the first stage 36 of the recess 8. Liquid flow isdirected from the ports 35 through a cavity 37 formed between acartridge housing 38 and an internal liner 40.

The flow cavity 37 is particularly formed upon seating a number ofradial spacers 42 at the liner 40 to the inner walls of the cartridgehousing 38, reference FIG. 2. Flow is interrupted and re-directed at thebase of the cartridge 10 by an end cap 44 that is spun welded to thehousing 38. The flow is directed to the core of the liner 40 through anumber of ports 46 arrayed about the lower periphery of the liner 40.

With the entry of liquid to the liner core, the liquid passes through anumber of filtration and purification stages. Two alternativearrangements of which stages are shown at FIGS. 3 and 4. The filteredand purified water is directed from the liner 40 to a bore or flowaperture 48 of the bayonet fitting 6, which is exposed at the secondstage 49 of the cartridge recess 8. Flow is directed through the bayonetfitting 6 to an outlet conduit 50 via an intermediate check valveassembly 52 shown at FIG. 2. FIGS. 5 through 7 depict another andpresently preferred check valve assembly 53 which assembly 53 isdiscussed below.

The check valves 52 and 53 are constructed to provide noise freeoperation under flow pressures in the range of 10 to 125 psi. It hasbeen found that various conventional check valves can produce nuisancesounds. Such noises are preferrably avoided in confined spaces, such asa refrigerator.

A particular advantage obtained from the system 2 is the ability toautomatically interrupt flow from the supply and return conduits 34, 50upon disconnecting a cartridge 10 from the manifold 4. Nuisance drainageis thereby prevented upon removing the cartridge 10 from the manifold 4.Standing water within the cartridge 10, downstream of the check valve52, is retained in the cartridge 10 due to the recessed mounting of thebayonet fitting 6 into the cartridge 10.

The supporting of the bayonet fitting 6 and the appurtenant O'rings 22,24 and 26 to the two stage recess 8 simplifies the construction of thecartridge 10 versus the conventional cartridges mentioned above. Thelatter cartridges provide a sealed bayonet fitting at each cartridgewhich mate to a recess at the manifold. A large number of relativelycostly O'ring seals are thus required to accomodate the disposablecartridges. The system 2 avoids the cost by mounting the seals to themanifold 4. Other seals 92, 93, which are descussed below, are insteadincluded to prevent viral contaminants from bypassing the treatmentmedia. A more cost effective and efficient filtration and purificationsystem is thereby obtained.

Turning attention to FIG. 2, a longitudinal cross section view is shownthrough the manifold 4 and from which details to the fitting of thecartridge 10 to the bayonet fitting 6 and the reasons for thecommensurate lack of drainage with the removal of the cartridge 10 aremore apparent. Particularly apparent are the construction of the valveassemblies 30 and 52 and the cooperation of the cartridge housing 38with a stem valve 60 of the valve assembly 30.

With attention to the valve assembly 30, the stem valve 60 is fitted tothe manifold 4 to protrude from the outlet aperture 32. A normallyclosed valve condition is obtained with a spring 62 which forces a valveseat 64 at the aft end of the stem valve 60 into engagement with anO'ring seal 66 at the manifold 4 to prevent flow through the aperture32. Internal surfaces of the manifold 4 adjacent the seat 64 might alsobe shaped to mate with the seat 64 in lieu of or in combination with theO'ring 66.

Projecting from the first of the 2 stages 36, 49 at the recess 8 is araised, tapered projection 72 that engages the stem valve 60 with thefitting and the rotation of the cartridge 10 to the manifold 4,reference also FIGS. 3 and 4. The mounting of the flanges 14, 16 and 18,20 are such that the projection 72 does not engage the valve stem 60until the shouldered flanges 12 and 14 are fully seated and rotated intothe channelways 27, 28 to lock to the manifold 4. A gradual depressionof the stem valve 60 is thereby assured.

Captured to the manifold 4 adjacent an outlet port 74 that contains theoutlet conduit 50 is the outlet valve assembly 52. The valve assembly 52includes a valve body 76 which is resiliently supported between a spring78 and a retainer 80. The retainer 80 presently comprises a ring whichis retained to a grooved surface 82. The spring 78 biases an O'ring 84fitted to the valve stem 76 to seal to a tapered surface or seat 86 ofthe manifold 4. The elastomer material of the O'ring 86 enhances theseal and reduces noise due to valve operation.

The valve assembly 52 particularly prevents audible clicking sounds atthe manifold 4. Such sounds can present a nuisance where the system 2 isused with home appliances, such as refrigerators, cooling fountains,faucets, or other applications where the system 2 is confined within aliving space. A variety of commercially available check valve assemblieshave been tested but found to be inadequate. FIG. 5, which is discussedbelow, discloses another and presently preferred check valve assembly53.

Also shown at FIG. 2 is the mounting of the liner 30 to the cartridgehousing 38. Particulary apparent is the manner of the mounting of acollar 41 at the liner 30 to a housing projection 90 and a pair ofO'rings 92 and 93, which are separated by a spacer ring 95. The multiplesets of O'rings 22, 24 and 26 and 92, 93 and spacer ring 95 not onlycontain the flow from the cartridge 10 to the fitting 6 but also providea seal against undesired back bypass migration of viral contaminants.

With the fitting of the liner 40 to the housing 38, the flow channel 37is created at the outer periphery of the liner 40 and which is moreapparent at the cartridges 96 and 98 of FIGS. 3 and 4. Liquid flow iscontained between the channel 37 and the bore 49 and contaminants arerestrained to the cartridge 10.

With attention to FIG. 3 and mounted within the core of the liner 40 area number of seriatim stages of filtration and purification media whichare arranged to provide the most advantageous dwell time and exposure ofthe water to the treatment media. With the entry of the water to theliner core at the apertures 46, the water is initially exposed to a pairof circular discs of filter media 98 and 102, which are mounted tocontain a bed of granular activated carbon (GAC) 100. The filter media98, 100 and 102 filter large particulates and organisms from the water.Positioned between the disc filter 102 and another disc filter 104 is abed of granular bactericide 105 such as a multi-valent iodine resin 106that can be present in a concentration in the range of 40 to 400 cubiccentimeters. Presently, a bed of 80 cc's of a PENTAPURE material is usedat the bactericide 105.

Supported above the disc filter 104 are a pair of porous plastic spacers106 and 108 and which capture a cast cylindrical carbon filter 110 tothe liner 40. The filter 110 is constructed of a cast GAC material andexhibits a nominal porosity in the range of 0.5 to 20 microns. Dependingupon the application, a pleated cylinder paper filter media might besubstituted at the filter 110.

O'ring seals 112 at the spacer 108 contain and direct water flow from achannel space 114 at the outer periphery of the filter 110 inward to abore 116. The water flows from the bore 116, through the spacer 108 intoa second bed of purification media 118 containing a mixture of halogenbactericides, GAC and/or halogen scavenger media. From the media 118,the water passes through a further disc filter 120 to the cartridgeoutlet bore 49 and the outlet port 48 of the manifold 4.

Depending upon the application and the particular contaminants found inthe available water supply, the arrangement of the treatment media andthe types of media can be varied to provide either filtration orpurification or both. FIG. 4 discloses an alternative treatmentcartridge 98 that is intended to principally serve as a filter. Thecartridge 98 contains a bed of GAC media 122 between a pair of porousdisc filters 124 and 126. The space containing the media 122 might alsobe subdivided to contain another filter media, such as a paper filter orthe like.

Mounted above the media 122 is a solid cylindrical block of GAC media128 which is supported to a porous plastic retainer 130. The filter 128is constructed of a cast GAC media and exhibits a nominal porosity inthe range of 0.5 to 20 microns. Liquid flow is directed from a channelspace 132 between the liner 40 and filter 128 inwardly to a bore 134.Supported within the bore 134 between the manifold 4 and the outlet bore49 is a porous conical nozzle 136 which directs flow to the outlet bore49 and seals to the fitting 6.

With attention to FIGS. 5 and 6, enlarged cross section and perspectiveviews are shown to the above mentioned alternative check valve assembly53. The assembly 53 provides a cylindrical valve stem 140 that includesa longitudinal slot 142 that extends along a sidewall of the valve stem140 to direct flow along the slot 142 to a surface 143 adjacent anO'ring seal 144. Flow is directed in a non-symmetric fashion such thatgreater pressure is exerted against the surface 143 which provides aslight tipping of the valve stem 140. This tipping has been found toreduce the tendency of audible clicking sounds at the manifold 4.

The seal 144 is fitted forward of a shoulder 146 to conform and seal thejuncture between the shoulder 146 and the manifold 4. A spring 148 andretainer 150 bias the shoulder 146 and seal 144 to prevent back flow atthe valve 53. The retainer 150 is press fit to the body of the manifold4 and is also secured with the fitted conduit 50.

Appreciating the potential of encountering water supply systemscontaining many large contaminants, such as well systems, FIG. 7 depictsa treatment system 160 that supports a pair of cartridges 96 and 162from a pair of interconnected manifolds 164 and 166. The manifolds 164and 166 are interconnected by an O'ring sealed coupler 168. The manifold164 is fitted with a valve assembly 30 and the manifold 166 is fittedwith a check valve assembly 53. Nuisance drainage is thus prevented withthe changing of either of the cartridges 162 and/or 96.

The arrangement of the cartridges 96, 162 are such that the cartridge162 principally filters the water and the cartridge 96 purifies thewater. The assemblies of the cartridges 162 and 96 are essentially thesame as earlier described. The principal difference is that the liner ofthe cartridge 162 is fitted with a disc filter 170, a bed of GACpre-filter media 172, and a cast cylindrical GAC filter 174. The filter174 is fitted between a disc end cap 176 and the conical nozzle seal136. Depending again upon the application, the filter treatments can bevaried, such as by including paper filter media and/or varying thevolume and porosity of the filtration medias.

While the invention has been described with respect to a presentlypreferred construction of the manifold and alternative cartridgeconstructions, still other constructions may be suggested to thoseskilled in the art. The following appended claims accordingly should beinterpreted to include all those equivalent embodiments within thespirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. Liquid treatment apparatus comprising:(a) amanifold having inlet and outlet ports adapted to couple to inlet andoutlet conduits of a water system; (b) first valve means mounted withinsaid manifold for controlling flow through said manifold from said inletport; (c) second valve means mounted within said manifold forcontrolling flow through said manifold from said outlet port, saidsecond valve means being biased in a seated closed configuration andbeing openable by a flow of water acting thereon to overcome the bias;and (d) a cartridge having a treatment cavity containing water treatmentmedia communicating with said inlet and outlet ports and wherein saidcartridge includes a surface which engages said first valve means,thereby urging said first valve means into an open configuration topermit flow when said cartridge is fully seated to said manifold, saidfirst valve means being biased in a seated closed configuration toprevent flow when said cartridge is disengaged from said first valvemeans.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first valvemeans comprises a valve stem, a seal mounted to said valve stem whichseal mates to a surface of said manifold and means for biasing said sealinto engagement with the manifold to a normally closed condition, andwherein said valve stem depends from said manifold and cooperates with araised surface of said cartridge such that upon supporting saidcartridge to said manifold said seal is disengaged and opens. 3.Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second valve meanscomprises a valve stem having a cylindrical section and a longitudinalbore, a longitudinal slit which extends through a sidewall of saidcylindrical section, a seal mounted to said valve stem and means forbiasing said seal into engagement with said manifold.
 4. Apparatus asset forth in claim 3 wherein said valve stem includes a shoulder whichradially projects to one side of said slit and further includes anO'ring mounted between said slit and said shoulder.
 5. Apparatus as setforth in claim 1 wherein said cartridge includes a recess which mates toa bayonet projection of said manifold and wherein said recess includes araised surface which engages said first valve means.
 6. Apparatus as setforth in claim 5 wherein said manifold includes first and secondchannelways and said cartridge includes first and second flanges whichflanges mount to said first and second channelways and wherein saidraised surface engages said first valve means upon rotating said firstand second flanges into said first and second channelways.
 7. Apparatusas set forth in claim 5 including a conical seal which extends between abayonet projection of said manifold in communication with said outletport and extends into said bore and wherein said bayonet projectionincludes first and second O'rings which mate to a bored recess of saidhousing.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cartridgeincludes a housing and a liner which defines a flow cavity between saidliner and the cartridge housing, wherein said liner contains seriatim afirst filter media, a multi-valent iodine purification media and asecond filter media.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein saidfirst filter media comprises granular GAC, wherein said second filtermedia comprises a cast cylindrical carbon block, and wherein flow isradially directed inward to the bore of said block and to said outletport.
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said liner isconcentrically supported to a projection of said housing containing saidbored recess and further containing first and second O'rings and anintervening annular spacer.
 11. Liquid treatment apparatuscomprising:(a) a manifold having inlet and outlet ports adapted tocouple to inlet and outlet conduits of a water system; (b) first valvemeans mounted within said manifold for controlling flow through saidmanifold from said inlet port, wherein said first valve means comprisesa valve stem having seal means which mates to a seat at said manifoldand which is biased to a normally closed condition and wherein the valvestem depends from said manifold and cooperates with a raised surface ofsaid cartridge such that upon mounting said cartridge to said manifoldsaid valve stem opens; (c) second valve means mounted within saidmanifold for controlling flow through said manifold from said outletport, wherein said second valve means comprises a valve stem having acylindrical section which contains a bore and a longitudinal slit whichextends through a sidewall of said cylindrical section, a seal and meansfor biasing said seal into a seated closed engagement with a seat atsaid manifold, said second valve means being openable by a flow of wateracting thereon to overcome the bias of the means for biasing; and (d) acartridge having a cavity containing water treatment media andcommunicating with said inlet and outlet ports.